As part of CFA's mission, our project in Sydney proved to be a complete success. It was an honor to conduct a series of workshops, host film screenings, and present an exhibtion of artworks from artists not only in Sydney, but from around the globe.

Workshops were led by CFA volunteers in conjunction with the I-Manifest organization. Here are some shots from the workshops led by Philip Schrader (Pinhole Camera workshop), Ethan Minsker (Zine making), and Shannon Daugherty (Flag Making & Lexicography using Screenprinting). Each of these workshops were designed so that students could develop and hone their creative skills. The students ranged in age from 14 to 17 and traveled up to two hours from several schools to meet us. At the end of each workshop leftover supplies were given to students to continue what they had learned. Each workshop was supplied with materials that could be accessible in the neighborhood, so students could replicate them with found, or little cost, materials.

As for the exhibition, CFA worked with the members of the Pool Collective. All proceeds from the show went to the Wayside Chapel, a housing effort to help homeless living in Sydney. Following the opening, members sought out other filmmakers and showed their work at the Golden Age film house.

All in all the trip was a success. We met a lot of really great artists, and were able to give back to the Redfern community specifically. A big thank you to all of those who could make the trip possible: Hollie Black, Simon Harsent, Grace Mateo, Sue Lampey, Arthur Bradford, The Pool Collective and its members, all of the artists involved, 107 Projects for hosting the space, The Wayside Chapel, and I-Manifest. If we forgot to mention anyone, please know that we appreciate you also. This project could not have been a success without everyone's help!

Citizens For The Arts is a Non-Profit, 501c3 recognized, organization. Its main function is to promote unknown and overlooked artists. We aim to build communities via workshops and other programming on a global and local level.

We are a working board, and do not get compensated for these projects. With each project, we aim to expand, influence, and help others develop their identity in a creative format. Your donation big or small is a vote to continue this work. Its a tax deduction and as easy as Paypal payment. For more information please email us at nycitizens.info@gmail.com.

We are weeks away from our project exhibition and workshops with the artists in Sydney, Australia. We wanted to share the upcoming workshops that we will be doing with the community during our visit. We are currently negotiating with the organizations, IManifest and WEAVE.

We will need a little bit of help and are asking for art supply donations or monies to help fund these projects. To submit art supplies, please contact us directly at nycitizens.info@gmail.com. To donate monies, please follow the link and it will take you to our Paypal. All donations are tax deductable and a charitable deductions worksheet will be furnished if needed.Click for CFA Paypal HERE.

Within this workshop the participants have the possibility to build their own pin whole camera. The camera will be built out of a carton box. A small hole in one side of the box is used as a lens. The picture is exposed at the opposite site on a photographic paper. The participants can also bring small items they like to photograph.

All necessary things like carton, photographic paper, processing liquids will be provided. A dark room would be helpful but is not necessary. The minimum age for participants is 12.

Workshops with Shannon Daugherty

Workshop #1: Flag making. Whether it be a family crest, a royal seal, a sports team, land territories such as claiming a country, every place has its own symbology in its flags. As such, we create what is "ours" using creative designs in conjunction with letter types, shapes, and colors. For this workshop, I propose to connect and rebuild with members of communities that have lost their housing. Ideally, we would help reclaim ownership, dignity, memories, and an overall sense of "home". They say that home is where the heart is, and a person's home is their castle, lets help inspire and open a dialogue about what home is.

Workshop #2: Re-inventing language and letter making.This is a workshop that I regularly do, and provide pre-carved typefaces. I have used these "plates" in multiple workshops around the globe. Each time they are used, they are slightly different, and prove to be continually evolving. I wanted to change direction with this using a lexicographical approach. The idea, as part of our new stronghold, and perhaps in conjunction with the flag making workshop, is to invent a language using existing verbs and adjectives that are part of our everyday vernacular. Think back when you were a kid and spoke "pig latin" for fun. Participants are encouraged to engage with one another and open up dialogues that are important to them, illustrate why they are so important, exploring new ideas and different ways that help to get their point across.

Fanzine workshop with Ethan Minsker

Hand crafted magazines: We will give a short presentation on our fanzine and then teach how to make their own from scratch with paper, scissors, and staplers. Fanzines can give the voiceless a powerful way to reach a larger audience. For myself, making fanzines was a way to build a community of artists who later became the Antagonist Movement. Instructor: Ethan Minsker, NYC editor of Psycho Moto Zine and author of Rich Boy Cries For Momma and Barstool Prophets.

Psycho Moto Zine is a periodical published from the late 1980s to the present, consisting mostly of short stories, reviews, and artwork. The zine was originally published in 1989 under the name East Coast Exchange by Ethan H. Minsker. Copies were produced illicitly by friends who worked in copy shops during Minsker’s college years at School of Visual Arts in New York City and in Washington D.C. during Minsker’s summer breaks.

By 1994 Psycho Moto Zine (PMZ) had transformed into an arts and literary fanzine with reviews that covered underground art, fanzines, films, and music. This connection between different creative elements was the inspiration for what would later become the Antagonist Art Movement.

For more information about the artists conducting the workshops, be sure to check out our Artists Bio page with a list of other artists that are involved in CFA activities past and present.

We are getting closer to our show dates in Sydney, Australia. Artists for the project hail from Australia, Portugal, Ecuador, The United States, and Canada to name a few. We are still seeking funding to help with spaces and workshops for people living within the Sydney vicinity.

“Dwelling” is an examination of the loss and the emotional ramifications of losing your home. The project represents social interaction and initiates dialogue between the artist and their community. The project will be a multimedia experience that will be later intercede with projection mapping for a video installation as well as include interviews from those affected by the loss of their homes.

This is open to all artists from a variety of backgrounds, and levels of maturity. We are asking artists to submit their ideas, stories and inquiries to nycitizens.info@gmail.com. For ways to donate, feel free to email or visit our Support page here.

Members of CFA will be showing work this weekend as part of the Bushwick open studios as part of the Goat Factory. If you are interested in finding out more, Hyperallergic did a write up about the series of events here.

The Goat Factory would like to address art lovers and enthusiasts as such:

We welcome you,

To immerse into the world of Goat Factory studios.From paintings to interactive kinetic sculptures to live bands a broad range of pieces waits for you to be discovered.Enjoy the hidden backyard, walk through the basement space and find yourself in the gallery in the first floor.Over 21 different artistic characters will make this show a blast.

We have been reaching out to institutions and individual donors such as yourselves to help raise all of the necessary funding for the anticipated project, Dwelling, taking place in Sydney, Australia for Fall 2015.

Thank you for re-sharing and all of your generous contributions! Citizens For the Arts is a recognized 501 (c)3 organization.

We had a great weekend out at the 2015 Brooklyn Zine Festival held at the Brooklyn Historical Society. There was a ton of wonderful collectors, artists, writers, and musicians from all over the country and it was a pleasure to have met you all! Here a some highlights, and fellow zine enthusiasts, from the weekend!

Psycho Moto has been active since the late 1980's and has featured artists and writers from all over the globe. Members of CFA volunteer their time to make and distribute locally and internationally.

It was a wonderful experience going to Bennington College for our artist members. The group was able to focus on projects that were not only fun, but instrumental in self development for everyone involved. We would like to thank everyone that came out for the workshops and film screenings. We look forward to seeing how their projects progress, and joining us for the next venture with Dwelling.

As part of the Governor's Island Fair, German born artist Jacob Theilis, exhibits his robotic pieces. He works with the Goat Collective and the Antagonist Art Movement. In Berlin he studied mechanical engineering and was a solar engineer. He has come to NYC to combine his passion for the sciences and his art together.